Einstein Celebrates Earth Week

Einstein held its annual Earth Week celebration during April, offering special events each day to promote environmental stewardship.

Several of these activities were designed to instill members of the Einstein community with a sense of environmental accountability and solidarity. For example, a screening and discussion of the award-winning documentary "Bag It," provided an avenue for discourse on the harm that plastic and chemical additives may impose on the environment and human health. Leading the discussion following the screening were Sydney MacInnis, of motheringMother, a company that sells reusable cotton shopping and produce bags, and Jennie Romer, founder and director of plasticbaglaws.org, which provides a resource for legislative bodies considering laws limiting the use of plastic bags. There also was a breakfast event held for bike commuters, rewarding them for their use of transportation not dependent on gasoline.

Other Earth Week activities promoted environmentally friendly practices that members of the Einstein community can make a part of their regular routine. These included "Meatless Monday," "Take-the-Stairs Tuesday" and free fitness classes offered throughout the week at the Falk Recreation Center.

"We wanted to get people thinking about the simple things they can do to reduce their ecological footprints," said Andrea Moore, sustainability manager in the office of energy & sustainability.

Throughout Earth Week extra recycle bins were accessible in the Forchheimer lobby and at other sites around campus for depositing batteries, printer cartridges, light bulbs and clothing. In addition, during the weekend, Einstein’s Bronx, Obesity, Diabetes & You (BODY) club hosted a workday in the BODY Community Garden, created on land provided to the club along Pierce Avenue. Club members worked with volunteers to build picnic tables and a trellis, plant seedlings and bushes provided by Home Depot and prepare the garden for spring.

Thanks to the facilities staff at Einstein, a small walking path was laid out in the garden, creating a patch of grass where individuals can meditate, do yoga or other exercises or just relax. And thanks to facilities staff at Montefiore, the garden also sported some new planter boxes ready for the planting of vegetables.

Earth Week is an extension of Earth Day, which was established in 1970 to demonstrate commitment to protecting the environment and to spread awareness of environmental issues. Einstein’s Earth Week was organized by the office of energy & sustainability and staff of the Falk Recreation Center, with assistance from several student groups, including Einstein Environmental Sustainability and Conservation, and BODY and the Einstein Community Garden.

A recycling station was set up in the Forchheimer lobby to provide a central location for members of the Einstein community to bring their recyclables

Jennie Romer discusses the documentary “Bag It,” following a special screening of the documentary

Zumba instructor demonstrates a dance step and intense workout at one of the free workouts offered during the week at the Falk Recreation Center